THE BATTLE against the forced academisation of a primary school has stepped up a notch as an MP promised to fight “tooth and nail” to save the school.

Moulsecoomb Primary is one of a wave of schools across the country fighting against Government academy plans.

MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle has added his support to the campaign to save Moulsecoomb Primary School from being turned into an academy, following an “inadequate” Ofsted inspection in April.

But after a hard fought campaign by parents and staff, one multi-academy trust has pulled out of the process.

On Friday the Brighton Kemptown Labour MP visited the school - and promised to fight to prevent it from being turned into an academy.

He said: “It was a joy to meet and spend time with the children and staff at Moulsecoomb Primary; a school which is doing fantastic work despite the challenges posed by years of cuts to the education budget by this Government. Headteacher Adam Sutton and the rest of his team are doing a fantastic job, which is plain to see to anybody who witnesses the energy and enthusiasm of their pupils.

It is clear to me that Ofsted is no longer fit for purpose, when a unique and inclusive school like that of Moulsecoomb is branded “inadequate” because it does not fit into their narrow check boxes.

"I will fight tooth and nail to make sure that our local school remains embedded in the community and is not handed over to some distant and unwanted multi-academy trust.”

Parents, staff and residents have been campaigning relentlessly to stop the school from being forced to join a multi-academy trust by the Secretary of State for Education.

The school says it has now also seen a huge boost in their results in year 1 phonics, year 2 SATs, and expects further improvements in year 6 SATs.

Teacher and National Education Union rep Calvin Cumiskey said: “It was clear that Lloyd is a politician who cares for his community, cares deeply about injustice and will do all he can to help Moulsecoomb Primary School from being forced to become an academy.”

Parents across the country are challenging decisions to take their community schools out of local authority control and hand them to private trusts. Staff strikes at Peacehaven Heights Primary and Telscombe Cliffs Primary schools in Peacehaven resulted in planned academisation being called off, with governors at both schools voting to stay under local authority control.